Federal judge blocks Trump’s Voice of America funding cuts
Voice of America (VOA) employees filed a lawsuit Friday against the Trump administration for abruptly closing the U.S. Agency for Global Media
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to cut funding for Voice of America (VOA), calling the move “arbitrary and capricious.” The ruling also prevents the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) from terminating grants for affiliated broadcasters, including Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Afghanistan.
Judge Slams Trump Administration’s “Sledgehammer” Approach
Judge James Paul Oetken criticized the Trump administration for abruptly defunding VOA and its sister networks without considering the consequences. He specifically called out USAGM leadership, including adviser Kari Lake, for dismantling the agency “seemingly overnight.”
The decision came after VOA journalists, labor unions, and Reporters Without Borders sued, arguing the cuts violated free-speech protections. They warned that silencing these outlets would create a propaganda vacuum, allowing biased narratives to dominate global airwaves.
Trump’s Controversial Stance on VOA
The Trump administration has long accused Voice of America of “leftist bias,” despite its congressional mandate to operate as a nonpartisan news source. The recent executive order slashing USAGM’s budget forced VOA off the air, sparking legal backlash.
With this ruling, the courts have temporarily shielded Voice of America and its affiliates from further disruption—but the battle over their future continues.
Six Voice of America (VOA) employees filed a lawsuit Friday against the Trump administration for abruptly closing the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM)—effectively dismantling VOA and its four sister broadcast networks.
On Monday, the journalists escalated their legal fight, seeking a temporary restraining order to block further attempts to defund or disrupt VOA and its affiliated broadcasters.
